October in Paris

The leaves are turning yellow and red, the air is filled with smells of roasting chestnuts and warm crepes filled with chocolate and bananas. Yet around each corner we find another sight which inspires reflection and just simple observing. Paris is never short of feasts for the senses!

Crepe post Musee d'Orsay. Mmmmmm!

Looking out of the Musee d'Orsay to Sacre Coeur

I first became enthralled with the work of Auguste Rodin ever since my brother Tom gave me a replica of The Thinker when he was my sponsor for the Holy Sacrament of Confirmation. The Rodin Museum is located on the grounds where Rodin took boarding and did much of his work.

The Burghers of Calais on their way to the gallows after they traded their lives for safety of the city

Victor Hugo

Hydrangea in bloom

The Arc de Triomphe was the site where we were nearly victims of a scam! Just after Martha and I watched mesmerized that any vehicle could navigate this massive roundabout, a young woman bent over and picked up a solid gold ring. She said she "found" it at our feet and tried to convince us it was solid gold. Since it didn't fit her finger, she thought I should keep it. I thought, "why not keep it if she doesn't want it? It'll make a good story!"

She walked away for 10 seconds then came back asking for money. Blink! went the dim bulb in my brain and we refused any donation. But she took the ring back, quick as you please, and ducked into the crowd.

Four days later she tried the exact same scam on us outside the Musse d'Orsay. We laughed and told her she'd hit on us at the Arc de Triomphe. But before we could reconnect with her about old times, she sauntered away.

There were other frequent scammers, but she was the most persistent.

Champs-Élysées has everything!

Many major car manufacturers have elegant show rooms, yet this concept uni-vehicle by Toyota was the most eye-catching. It leans back at higher speeds but is more upright for inner-city commuting to enhance visibility.

Gotta get me one of these!

Doing the tourist thing above...

...and below!

Strolling through the Jardin des Tuileries enjoying the sun and sights!

Boys and their boats in the Jardin du Tuileries

Musee d'Orsay from the Seine River

As a public testimony of their love, couples will toss the key of their lock into the Seine to seal the deal! And, to answer one of your questions, the locks are cut off about every 3 months to make way for the next batch of romantics.

A beautiful scene...

...made better!

Breakfast on Rue des Ecoles, a few blocks from our hotel

The Jardin du Luxembourg.

The Jardin du Luxembourg palace

In many quiet spaces of this magnificent garden, we saw masters teaching or groups practicing tai chi or yoga!

The fountain at Place St. Michel, the traditional core of the Left Bank's artsy, liberal, hippie, bohemian district of poets, philosphers and winos.

The Shakespeare and Company Bookstore, started by Slyvia Beach as a place for writers and other creative types to share ideas, lodging or to just read. This place was frequented by the likes of Hemingway, Shaw, Joyce, the Fitzgeralds and the Kerns!

I took advantage of proximity to hobnob with history by reading in this reading room. I flipped through biographies about Truman Capote and King Louis XIV, the Sun King, who created the palace at Versailles. And I even read from an aged copy of Victor Hugo's "Hunchback of Notre Dame" immediately across the Seine from Notre Dame Cathedral!

Vendors across from Notre Dame

Same cathedral, different vendors, different trees

Posters of past rockers

Street musician on bridge to Notre Dame. This bridge had the most locks on it for some reason. Whole lotta lovin' going on in this city!

Lunch in the Jardin du Tuileries with Pepe Le Peu, next to Martha

We closed out our Thirtieth Anniversary Adventures on the streets of Paris when it becomes magical in the rain.

And we were doubly blessed to share this special evening with my high school buddy and his wife, Norm and Janet Becker, who happened to be passing through Paris on their own tour!

We had a superb dinner on the street above then found a creperie to cap the event with creamy doses of whipped cream adding velvety essence to the chocolate crepes!

Early morning shot of our Familia Hotel just before we left for the airport to come home. It was a nice place for us, centrally located in the Latin Quarter with very helpful staff.

An early morning event told me it was time to come home. We'd been warned as we came in from dinner that France was changing to standard time that night, so we'd have an extra hour of sleep. Smart guy that I am, I changed my watch back one hour, set the alarm and asked for a 6:15 wake-up call to catch our 7:10 shuttle.

What I didn't realize is that my watch has two time options. So, when I awoke and read 6:22, I jumped out bed in the pitch dark, called to Martha that we'd overslept, and promptly drove my forehead into the corner wall of the bathroom. As blood streamed from my eyebrow, Martha coolly went back to sleep.

As we waited in the Charles de Gaulle airport, we thought of the wonderful experiences we've had and thought ahead to our next adventure!

Au revoir!